Wellington horseman rides off with major award

Then a student at St. Andrew's School, Dello Joio made the trek in the early morning hours through his high school years.

Now Dello Joio travels even further, all the way to Miami-Dade County, where he attends Florida International University as a junior majoring in business management.

Dello Joio is traveling elsewhere these days, competing as a show jumper. He recently received the 2010 Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award, presented by the United States Equestrian Team Foundation.

Dello Joio's selection was based on his past performances and future potential to represent the United States in international competition.

Late last year, Dello Joio posted back-to-back wins at the Atlanta Fall Classics I and II, an accomplishment he regards as his most memorable to date.

Riding Malcolm, a 12-year-old chestnut gelding, Dello Joio captured the first Grand Prix win of his riding career in the EMO Grand Prix at the Atlanta Fall Classic I. A week later, he won top honors in the same competition at the Atlanta Fall Classic II.

Dello Joio took over the ride on Malcolm from his father, Olympian Norman Dello Joio, almost a year ago. In addition to the duo's ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Grand Prix, they also contributed to the fifth-place finish of the Zone 4 Team at last year's Adequan FEI North American Young Rider Championships in Lexington, Ky.

Earlier in the season, Dello Joio found success aboard Draco, with whom he finished second in the Hagyard Classic at the Kentucky Summer Classic and fifth in the Scotiabank Cup at Spruce Meadows Continental.

An all-around athlete who played hockey, lacrosse, soccer and football, Dello Joio began his riding career at age 14.

Dello Joio received his award in Tampa at the American Invitational on April 10. He was then off to Switzerland for the World Cup Finals in Geneva, where he'll compete with the U.S. delegation. Dello Joio said he also hopes to be selected for the Show Jumping International Young Riders Tour.

"It would be a great international experience," he said. "[U.S. Show Jumping Coach] George [Morris] has been telling me for quite some time that I need to go abroad, and I think this tour would be a great opportunity."

Golf duo one-two in section Pro-Amateur championship

A pair of professionals from Admiral's Cove — Ryan Zug and Matthew King — finished first and second in the PGA South Florida Section's 2010 Pro-Amateur Championships on their home course.

Zug played with amateur partner Bernie Caraballo and netted a 62. King and amateur partner John Herring shot a 64, as did Gleneagles Country Club professional Jason Hrynkiw and partner Bruce Allman.

International Gay Polo event helps to wind down season

Polo season is almost at the end, and one new event burst onto the scene April 3 — the inaugural International Gay Polo Tournament, contested at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington.

Four teams participated in the tournament, which awarded The Senator Cup, named in honor of World War II hero and California polo legend Glenn V. "Senator" Atkinson, to the Equestrian Life team of Tom Landry, Chip McKenney, Gordon Ross and pro player Juan Bollini, who defeated Bluhorse 4-3 in the championship game.

Bollini scored two goals in the fourth chukker to lift his team to victory. Bluehorse's roster was made up of Dwight Tran, Jim Linhart, John Wigdahl and pro Joey Casey.

Wigdahl was named the tournament's amateur MVP, and Plain Jane, a chestnut mare that had been played by McKenney, was named the Best Playing Pony.

The tournament's format put three amateur players from the Gay Polo League together with a pro to play four-chukker matches. Other pros playing in the tournament were Jeff Blake and Nic Roldan.

In the consolation match, Blake raced down the field on a breakaway in the final minute of play to lift Step by Step Foundation to a 5-4 victory over Buchanan Screen, Rail & Windows. Blake scored all five of his team's goals.

"The pros were amazing. I think we're all leaving as better players. In the fourth chukker, in every game, we were better than we were in the first chukker," said McKenney, the GPL's president and founder. "We want to return next year and make this a tradition."